New format for N-Day Rally

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will deliver his National Day Rally speech at the National University of Singapore's University Cultural Centre on Aug 26.

But in a break from tradition, he has invited three Cabinet members - Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Minister of State Lawrence Wong and Minister of State Halimah Yacob - to speak.

They will speak from 6.45 to 7.30pm.

PM Lee will then deliver his rally speech - regarded as the most important political speech of the year in Singapore - from 8 to 10pm.

He will first speak in Malay, then in Mandarin and finally in English.

All three invited speakers have been in the spotlight of late.

In his National Day message earlier this month, PM Lee revealed that Mr Heng would chair a new committee of younger ministers to take a fresh look at current policies and engage Singaporeans in a broader conversation on where the country should be in the future.

Mr Wong, who like Mr Heng is also a first-term office holder, was promoted to senior minister of state in last month's reshuffle.

On Nov 1, Mr Wong will become Acting Minister of the newly formed Culture, Community and Youth Ministry.

Likewise, Madam Halimah will take up a new post on Nov 1 as Minister of State at the new Social and Family Development Ministry.

You can watch or listen to the National Day Rally live on Aug 26 from 6.45pm on these channels: Local TV: Channel 5/High-definition on HD5, okto, Channel NewsAsia, Channel 8, Channel U, Suria, Vasantham